College degrees take at least four years to earn, more if you want to pursue a master's degree or a PH.D. You receive a broad-based education that covers subjects not directly related to your eventual degree. For instance, if you are pursuing a degree in biological sciences, you must take humanities courses such as literature and history to round out your degree. Vocational schools, on the other hand, provide certificate and associate's degrees in less than two years. Vocational schools focus on preparing you for the workforce and provide real-world training as opposed to broad courses. Vocational schools offer courses in culinary arts, computers and auto mechanics.
The enrollment process for vocational schools is a lot easier than the process at colleges and universities. Vocational schools usually have an open enrollment process and only require students to have a high school diploma. Select vocational schools even have programs to help students get their GED and even allow students to take classes while still in high school. Colleges have stricter enrollment processes. Complete applications include minimum grade point averages, entrance essays, letters of recommendation and interviews. Colleges may or may not accept class credit from vocational schools.
Vocational schools usually have less than 1,000 students enrolled at their institutions, whereas colleges often have more than 30,000 students at one time. Classes at vocational schools often average 20 to 30 students, giving instructors a chance to know all of their students. College classes may take place in auditoriums that hold as many as 300 students. Instructors don't know the names of all of their students and often use graduate assistants to help with instruction and grading. College students must make a special effort to get to know their professors to get noticed.
College educations cost thousands of dollars more than vocational schools because of the type of classes and length of education. Vocational schools offer classes for less than $100 apiece while a semester in college can cost more than $5,000, especially if you are an out-of-state student. Both forms of post-secondary education, though, provide financial aid to students, including federal programs and need-based stipends. Select vocational schools even provide Federal Pell Grants and scholarships for military personnel. It's important to consider your career goals before enrolling in a college or vocational school so as not to spend unnecessary money.